Lonk
Encyclopedia
The Lonk is a domestic sheep
of a specific breed, found in the hills of the central and south Pennines
, in the north of England
. The name "Lonk" derives from the Lancashire word "lanky", meaning long and thin, usually in a person
. Their range extends into only two counties; Lancashire
and Derbyshire
. Also known as the Improved Haslingden, the Lonk is of the Blackfaced Mountain type, and is similar to the Derbyshire Gritstone
, apart from the absence of horns
in that breed.
Characteristically, Lonks have black-and-white faces and their long legs are well suited to the Pennine environment of rocky hills and peat bogs. They are extremely hardy. The Lonk is raised for carpet wool
and for meat. The breed was once farmed by monk
s at Whalley and Sawley Abbey. The Lonk Sheep Breeders' Association is based in Burnley
, Lancashire. There were fears during the 2001 epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease
in the UK
that the Lonk breed would become extinct.
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
of a specific breed, found in the hills of the central and south Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
, in the north of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name "Lonk" derives from the Lancashire word "lanky", meaning long and thin, usually in a person
Person
A person is a human being, or an entity that has certain capacities or attributes strongly associated with being human , for example in a particular moral or legal context...
. Their range extends into only two counties; Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. Also known as the Improved Haslingden, the Lonk is of the Blackfaced Mountain type, and is similar to the Derbyshire Gritstone
Derbyshire Gritstone
The Derbyshire Gritstone is a breed of domestic sheep native to the United Kingdom. A hardy hill sheep, it is also one of the oldest British breeds. The Gritstone is generally found around Derbyshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. They are large, polled sheep with black and white faces...
, apart from the absence of horns
Horn (anatomy)
A horn is a pointed projection of the skin on the head of various animals, consisting of a covering of horn surrounding a core of living bone. True horns are found mainly among the ruminant artiodactyls, in the families Antilocapridae and Bovidae...
in that breed.
Characteristically, Lonks have black-and-white faces and their long legs are well suited to the Pennine environment of rocky hills and peat bogs. They are extremely hardy. The Lonk is raised for carpet wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
and for meat. The breed was once farmed by monk
Monk
A monk is a person who practices religious asceticism, living either alone or with any number of monks, while always maintaining some degree of physical separation from those not sharing the same purpose...
s at Whalley and Sawley Abbey. The Lonk Sheep Breeders' Association is based in Burnley
Burnley
Burnley is a market town in the Burnley borough of Lancashire, England, with a population of around 73,500. It lies north of Manchester and east of Preston, at the confluence of the River Calder and River Brun....
, Lancashire. There were fears during the 2001 epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids...
in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
that the Lonk breed would become extinct.